Stalin's Communism
Stalin inspires. The more I study about him, the more I see the great ideas he had for a philosophy of life for the common worker. The Palace of Culture in each district of Omsk comes from Stalin. The pub was not the place to go to after work, but workers could go to a beautiful cultural center to be inspired in and to learn. We notice that after Stalin's death, the new micro districts built under Krushchev and Brezhnev were devoid of beauty or culture, and indeed alcohol became a solace again. Gorbachev probably brought down the Soviet Union by trying to limit alcohol consumption, cut down all the grape vineyards, and take away the sugar, in case it could be made into 'home brew.' Secondly, I've come to realize that communism didn't have to be a 'cancel culture.'. The Slavs had lived in the village commune for centuries, and my grandmother Sophia told me about how the land, work, and chores were divided up each year in the village. Some family would be assigned to watch the cows that year, another the pigs, and so forth. Thirdly, I've examined closer the philosophy behind Stalin's housing architecture. Truly, these apartments and homes for workers were palatial. High ceilings, spacious balconies, rich architectural elements that spared no expense. Finally, I understand that Russia today doesn't need to be a cancel culture with its past, that each epoch has its own richness to be preserved and learned from. Today's microregions could also be improved by beautiful architecture and cultural institutions, including churches. Too often we design for the minimal: food, schools, and shopping, but nothing to lift the soul. Modern housing can impress but not inspire. Looking at the Stalin architecture, we therefore see a philosophy of life; we feel ourselves unified and strengthened. This is the true legacy of Stalin's architecture and what he personally inspired—to lift the common man up into the realm of an enlightened, cultured person in a beautiful new world.
Stalin inspires. The more I study about him, the more I see the great ideas he had for a philosophy of life for the common worker. The Palace of Culture in each district of Omsk comes from Stalin. The pub was not the place to go to after work, but workers could go to a beautiful cultural center to be inspired in and to learn. We notice that after Stalin's death, the new micro districts built under Krushchev and Brezhnev were devoid of beauty or culture, and indeed alcohol became a solace again. Gorbachev probably brought down the Soviet Union by trying to limit alcohol consumption, cut down all the grape vineyards, and take away the sugar, in case it could be made into 'home brew.' Secondly, I've come to realize that communism didn't have to be a 'cancel culture.'. The Slavs had lived in the village commune for centuries, and my grandmother Sophia told me about how the land, work, and chores were divided up each year in the village. Some family would be assigned to watch the cows that year, another the pigs, and so forth. Thirdly, I've examined closer the philosophy behind Stalin's housing architecture. Truly, these apartments and homes for workers were palatial. High ceilings, spacious balconies, rich architectural elements that spared no expense. Finally, I understand that Russia today doesn't need to be a cancel culture with its past, that each epoch has its own richness to be preserved and learned from. Today's microregions could also be improved by beautiful architecture and cultural institutions, including churches. Too often we design for the minimal: food, schools, and shopping, but nothing to lift the soul. Modern housing can impress but not inspire. Looking at the Stalin architecture, we therefore see a philosophy of life; we feel ourselves unified and strengthened. This is the true legacy of Stalin's architecture and what he personally inspired—to lift the common man up into the realm of an enlightened, cultured person in a beautiful new world.